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Villa with traditional cottage annexe in charming hillside village

CASA DAIMALOS
Casa Daimalos, along with the village house next door, has been lived in by the owners for three generations. This charming house has its own secluded swimming pool and is set on the edge of a small village, looking out across a sheltered valley planted with olives, almonds and vines, and crowned with the ruins of a Moorish castle. The village church has a tower adapted from the oldest minaret in Andalucia and a Mudejar ceiling plus recently discovered, rather worn, 18th century frescoes. The key can be found with the ladies who will order your bread
The extensive terrace area is shaded by a vine-covered pergola, and the garden is full of fruit trees and flowers, including yuccas, jacarandas, bourgainvillea, aloes, oranges, lemons, grapefruit and a pomegranate.
Inside, the large (40 sq. m.) sitting/dining room, has an informal family character, with antique furniture, an open fireplace and a library with hundreds of books: these include (normally found on the right-hand side of the shelves) a memoir called The Bottle Brush Tree, written by the owner and describing how he and his wife discovered Daimalos, plus a book of poems called Sketches from the Sierra Tejeda by John Fuller who was a frequent visitor.
This house, sleeping four, can be rented together with the old village house which sleeps six and can share all the facilities of Casa Daimalos. Casa Daimalos can also be rented separately and is an ideal base for walking and exploring, especially in spring and autumn.
THE VILLAGE HOUSE
The 200 year-old village house, next to the village fountain, with entrance planted with bourganvillia and troughs of flowers, has an atmospheric sitting room with many original features, including ancient beams and cane ceilings, an open fireplace and alcoves for storing earthenware wine jars. Steps lead down to an adequately equipped kitchen with gas oven and four hobs, plus fridge/freezer. There is a twin-bed double bedroom leading from the sitting room, and down a couple of steps is another bedroom with double bed and tiled shower room. There is access to a small patio, filled with sweet smelling jasmine. The door from the patio leads on to a small track directly opposite Casa Daimalos. A charmingly primitive staircase leads up to the twin-bedded master bedroom occupying the entire first floor with door to a secluded vine-covered roof terrace and built-in barbecue. There is a large en-suite bathroom.

Overview

Villa Daimalos (Sleeps 4, 2 Bedrooms)

The house has a fantastic large sitting, dining room with casement windows, antique furniture, a large open fireplace and access to a well stocked library.

The master bedroom with double bed, en-suite bathroom with a bath and shower over, and has access to a lovely roof terrace. There are

fitted wardrobes and beautiful views.Bedroom 2 has two single beds, a fitted wardrobe and tiled floors with rugs. There is a shower-room, with a shower cubicle and washing machine adjoining the second bedroom.

The attractive kitchen is well equipped with a dishwasher, fridge/freezer, toaster, oven and three hobs and microwave, coffee maker and blender. It is a very well equipped family kitchen with everything guests might require for catering for a large group.

S8761

CASA DAIMALOS

Casa Daimalos, along with the village house next door, has been lived in by the owners for three generations. This charming house has its own secluded swimming pool and is set on the edge of a small village, looking out across a sheltered valley planted with olives, almonds and vines, and crowned with the ruins of a Moorish castle. The village church has a tower adapted from the oldest minaret in Andalucia and a Mudejar ceiling plus recently discovered, rather worn, 18th century frescoes. The key can be found with the ladies who will order your bread

The extensive terrace area is shaded by a vine-covered pergola, and the garden is full of fruit trees and flowers, including yuccas, jacarandas, bourgainvillea, aloes, oranges, lemons, grapefruit and a pomegranate.

Inside, the large (40 sq. m.) sitting/dining room, has an informal family character, with antique furniture, an open fireplace and a library with hundreds of books: these include (normally found on the right-hand side of the shelves) a memoir called The Bottle Brush Tree, written by the owner and describing how he and his wife discovered Daimalos, plus a book of poems called Sketches from the Sierra Tejeda by John Fuller who was a frequent visitor.

This house, sleeping four, can be rented together with the old village house which sleeps six and can share all the facilities of Casa Daimalos. Casa Daimalos can also be rented separately and is an ideal base for walking and exploring, especially in spring and autumn.

THE VILLAGE HOUSE

The 200 year-old village house, next to the village fountain, with entrance planted with bourganvillia and troughs of flowers, has an atmospheric sitting room with many original features, including ancient beams and cane ceilings, an open fireplace and alcoves for storing earthenware wine jars. Steps lead down to an adequately equipped kitchen with gas oven and four hobs, plus fridge/freezer. There is a twin-bed double bedroom leading from the sitting room, and down a couple of steps is another bedroom with double bed and tiled shower room. There is access to a small patio, filled with sweet smelling jasmine. The door from the patio leads on to a small track directly opposite Casa Daimalos. A charmingly primitive staircase leads up to the twin-bedded master bedroom occupying the entire first floor with door to a secluded vine-covered roof terrace and built-in barbecue. There is a large en-suite bathroom.

About Adam Seymour-Davies

Hugh and Georgina bought the village house in 1973, and spent Summer holidays there with their two children Adam and Dan. Twenty years ago they bought a large plot of land next to the house, and built what is now Casa Daimalos with its gardens and secluded pool. Three generations of the family still regularly visit for holidays; the village is very close to our hearts.

Adam Seymour-Davies purchased this house in 1973

Why Adam Seymour-Davies chose Axarquia (Costa del Sol)

These properties will appeal to those who want to holiday in a slightly more remote (but convenient) location away from the main tourist areas. The houses are located on the edge of a traditional Andalucian village in a stunning hillside rural spot.

Guestbook comments from the owner

Extracts from the visitors book.

'We spent 2 fabulous weeks in the villa last July and really enjoyed the peace, stunning views, large garden and pool. This delightful village, really is "away from it all" and yet not a long drive to the beautiful city of Granada.' Jim Pearson

The Cummings who stayed in August 2008 liked the villa so much they wrote 3 pages, but they concluded with the following. 'We return tomorrow taking home our lovely memories of our Spanish holiday in Daimalos. A great time was had by all'

The James' July 2008 - 'Our stay here was delightful. The pool was used every day and we enjoyed making fresh orange juice from the trees. We bought cakes, bread and biscuits from the little ladies' shop. We read the books from the shelves and there was a variety to choose from. Under the trees we played cards and chatted.'

Available Rentals

- Enter dates for accurate pricing

Notes

Booking Notes:
The rates quoted are per property. A deposit is required to confirm booking. Saturday changeover days are preferred, but we do accept that flights can be cheaper midweek and are willing to be flexible where possible.

Changeover Day:
Saturday changeover days are preferred, but we do accept that flights can be cheaper midweek and are willing to be flexible where possible. As stated above we request guests to leave before 10am and arrive after 5pm to allow time for cleaning.

Notes on prices:
Prices are per property per week in UK Pounds.
NB Very reduced prices for long lets. If both houses are let together they provide very comfortable and cheap accommodation for 10 people.

The master bedroom - on the top floor - has a comfy double bed, ample built-in wardrobe space and access to a private terrace overlooking the pool and surrounding hills. The ceilings are high, and with its numerous doors and windows the room is particularly bright and airy. The bedroom benefits from having a large ensuite bathroom (with bath). The second bedroom is on the ground floor, with two twin beds, adjacent to the shower room.

Entertainment:

Books

Games

Television ...

Outside:

Balcony

Terrace

Golf ...

Garden

Barbecue

Veranda

Suitability:

wheelchair inaccessible ...

Pool / Spa:

Outdoor Pool

Private Pool ...

Attractions:

autumn foliage

churches

ruins

winery tours

Leisure Activities:

bird watching

scenic drives

sight seeing

walking

Local Services & Businesses:

ATM/bank

Sports & Adventure Activities:

hiking

swimming

Notes:

Notes on accommodation: Located on the edge of the tiny village of Daimalos in the hills above Velez Malaga, this house looks out from its roof-terrace across a sheltered valley to a hill crowned with the ruins of a Moorish castle. The properties can be let together by a large party of up to 10 guests in total and then all guests can then share the superb outdoor facilities. Both houses are not suitable for children under 4. Guests are asked to leave by 10am and not arrive until after 5pm to allow time to clean the houses. Outside: The villa has a large private pool of 4x8m, BBQ, 4 sun beds and 12 garden chairs and a large table. It has a beautiful mature garden, full of flowers and fruit trees, including yuccas, bougainvilleas, hibiscus, oranges, lemons, figs and pomegranites. The extensive terrace area is partly shaded by a vine covered pergola and flowering trees, the rest is open for sunbathing.The garden is totally private and has fabulous views and provides a wonderful place to relax in total peace. The cottage has a vine covered roof terrace with views over the surrounding hills.

Captivating village house in stunning location.

From the moment we walked into Villa Daimalos we knew that our stay there was going to be special. Set against mountains close to a village but in a very private location there is a magical sense of timelessness about the place, partly due to the amazing library of books there which is truly impressive and also due to the love and care that has clearly been put into its creation. As for outside the pool is perfect , the fountains entrancing, the ambiance relaxing and the view? It's breathtaking. We have all been put under its spell and hope to return to see it again in all seasons. Thank you to Adam and his family for all their help. Best wishes, Tessa, Chris, Daisy and Arran Dunn.

A tranquil Andalucian 'home from home' with stunning views

We really enjoyed our stay here. The villa is beautiful throughout, and the lovely gardens are well maintained. The pool was in good order and clean, and with plenty of chairs and loungers about it was easy to relax both in and out of the water.

Inside, the kitchen is very well-equipped, so once we'd done a big grocery shop at Eroski in Velez-Malaga, self-catering was very easy. We also appreciated the electric fans and the well-stocked library.

There was lots of information left by the owners and previous visitors about interesting things to do in the area, but with temperatures between 30 and 40° (mid August) we spent most of our time 'at home'. We'll have to go back at another time of year!

We really appreciated being able to order a food parcel in for our arrival late on Saturday night, and in fact all communication with the owners was excellent.

Thank you very much, Seymour-Davieses, it was just the summer holiday that we were hoping for.

Review Submitted: Aug 22, 2016

Date of Stay: Aug 2016

Source: Owners Direct, from HomeAway

Owner's Response: Dear Rachel,
Thank you so much for your thoughts. We're delighted that you enjoyed your stay with us; we heard that the weather was on the hot side, so we're so pleased that you found the house and pool comfortable in such high temperatures! We very much hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back again in the future.
Best wishes,
The Seymour-Davies family

Wonderfully authentic Spanish house in small mountain village - full of character

We have just returned from 2 very relaxing weeks at Casa Daimalos. The house is an interesting family home with a well equipped kitchen, fantastic library (no need to bring any books!) and plenty of good quality outside furniture. Beach towels included. Good stable wifi which enabled my husband to follow the cricket and for our teenage daughters to keep in touch with friends via FaceTime and Skype. We spent many hours round and in the good sized pool which oversees the garden terraces which were full of oranges and figs whilst we were there. Lovely to enjoy a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice in the morning and an electric juicer is even provided! Evenings spent on the terrace under the vine were also a delight eating good food with a bottle or two of Spanish Rioja. The grapes were lovely and sweet too. Nearest restaurant 2km so car essential. We went to Competa and other local mountain villages to eat and also down in Torre del Mar which is about 30 mins down the mountain. Nerja and Frigiliana were among other places we visited and enjoyed. Local villagers very welcoming and we were invited into a couple of their houses and shown around! This is not a place for those who want lots of nightlife and a typical Costa del Sol villa. This house oozes old fashioned character and charm in a peaceful locationThe owners were very quick to respond to any questions we had and nothing was too much trouble. We hope to return!

Review Submitted: Aug 13, 2016

Date of Stay: Jul 2016

Source: HomeAway

Owner's Response: Thank you so much for your comments; we have holidayed there for over 40 years, and we're delighted that guests can also enjoy everything that Daimalos has to offer. We're glad that you took advantage of the citrus trees and grapes! I will pass your feedback to our new property management team who will be thrilled that their hard work has been well received.
Thanks again for sharing your thoughts with us, and we very much hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back again in the future. Best wishes from the Seymour-Davies family.

Spacious, private, well equipped, full of character, magnificent terrace, garden and pool.

The moment we opened the door we were delighted. We loved the character of the house with its tiles and wood. It was beautifully cool on hot days - designed for cross breezes. The ambiance of the little medieval village perched on the hill was pleasant and the views stunning. The house, being a family home, is well equipped with everything from CDs, library, games to mosquito coils and garlic crusher. We enjoyed preparing meals and bbq. We shared the house with friends and felt that we each had plenty of space with a bathroom each. We've been travelling for a while so it was great to unpack and do some washing. We were quickly calling the villa home!

We loved the garden with its citrus trees. And the terrace and pool was where we began and ended each day. Some days we stayed "home", others we explored the local villages. We loved Competa and Arenas was nice too. For beaches we went to Torre del Mar and Nerja. As recommended by the hosts we went to the Bodegas Bentomiz for tasting and lunch which was excellent.

The house was clean and set up to be welcoming by Scott the caretaker. He was friendly, accommodating & responsive to our needs.

Tranquil secluded and authentic retreat

We would very much like to thank Sheila and Steve for being wonderful unobtrusive yet helpful when required hosts. The directions sent were acurate and we arrived without a hitch. Sheila and Steve greeted us and ensured we gained entry to the property and then left us to settle in and said they were just across the road if we needed anything- which is what we like.

The Villa is a thoroughly charming property, with facilities completely in order and extremely pleasing- well stocked library, clean pool and inside/outside furniture, original artworks on display, plenty of crockery and good firm mattresses on the beds. The garden is a secluded delight- with a plethora of fruit trees which will of course drop fruit and leaves ( the outside had been immaculately swept for our arrival and Sheila and Steve said they would come in and do the garden throughout our visit but honoured our quiet times) in addition the birds sing in the trees which we love- however for those that don't like the above we can recommend any characterless properties elsewhere! It is a steep path down to the Villa about 10m and it is a rural village setting- stated in the property description. The Villa is a perfect private place to unwind in peace. Sheila and Steve offer to get shopping if you require before your arrival and any questions they're on hand to promptly sort out or answer and were extremely pleasant. Villa Daimalos a wonderful secluded retreat, thank you.

Review Submitted: Jun 12, 2014

Date of Stay: May 2014

Source: Owners Direct, from HomeAway

Owner's Response: Many thanks for a fabulous review. We hope you can come again with more friends and use the cottage, as well as the villa.

Perfect

A group of us visited Daimalos for the first time to attend a friend's wedding nearby. The villa exceeded expectations, and had stunning views, huge pool and garden area, and a lovely authentic feel to it. We had a perfect week having lilo fights in the pools, relaxing sunbathing and lovely evenings sat in the terrace. So relaxing and we never once felt the need to explore anywhere else. It was a shame we discovered the shop & bakery in stunning Arenas so late on as that actually had all the little extras we needed. Only downside would be the dog that kept inviting itself in and wouldn't leave (!) and the very difficult driving directions (they could have been 5 bullet points not 5 pages as it was actually very easy to find). Apart from that perfect - we'd certainly come again, excellent value and just what we all needed! Thank you!

Review Submitted: Jun 11, 2014

Date of Stay: May 2014

Source: Owners Direct, from HomeAway

Owner's Response: Thanks for a great review.
It is always difficult to decide between being helpful or intrusive as we could so easily have explained ,where to find the shops in Arenas. On a similar thought it a shame you found the driving instructions overly difficult. I think that in order to extend to 5 pages you must have had a very large font or more likely printed off both directions. We have one for people who want to drive straight to the villa and another for people who want to visit Eroski a large supermarket, on the way, where they can stock up for the week. Still glad you found it easy to find. Again, Steve and I are there to help and would have removed the dog if you had said she was a nuisance. Steve offered to tie her up but one your group said she was part of the "party".
Hope you come again and remind us of your comments.
Sheila and Steve.

Fresh bread, "pan", is available every day, but must be ordered in advance from the two ladies who live a few yards away on the left hand-side of the alley by the garden gate.

There is a small supermarket in Arenas, as well as a bank and Cash point. There are a couple of basic bars/restaurants. Larger supermarkets may be found on the main road from Velez to Torre del Mar, i.e. the large hypermarket, Eroski and a smaller supermarket called Mercadona which has excellent meat and fish. There is a fine covered market in Velez Malaga where one can buy everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to fish, chicken, meat and whole legs of the local Serrano ham. Kid is also available from time to time, as is suckling pig.

There is excellent walking, with stunning scenery and good tracks, starting from the village. There are several books and folders on walks which you will find on the table in the sitting room.

Nerja (about a 40 minute drive) is the Spanish "Positano", with the houses clinging to the steep cliff. There are many restaurants and bars, a pretty town square and the famous "balcon de Europa" There are a variety of beaches, including long stretches of sand and small rocky coves. Just outside the town are the impressive caves and an ancient aquaduct.

Velez Malaga has an aqua park and the golf course at Baveira is 12 km away.

The nearby village of Archez has a magnificent brick minaret; a few kilometers further on is the attractive village of Canillas de Albaida, with a pretty square and attractive bars and restaurants. The next village, Sayalunga is famous for having the only round cemetery in Spain (just outside the village). The pretty square is an ideal place to relax with a "copa". For those interested in wine, Bodega Bentomiz is a must. It is a couple of kilometers south of Sayalunga, up a track on the left hand side of the road. It is a recently established winery, run by a delightful Dutchman and his wife, and is devoted to wines of the region. They offer tours, tastings and lunches. It is essential to book. Ring Clara (speaks perfect English for more information. 658845285. They also have a website. From here you can drive to Competa (about 45 minutes from Daimalos), which has become a large cosmopolitan village with great charm and a plethora of restaurants and bars.

Malaga is well worth a visit. The old town comprises typical Spanish architecture with narrow streets, tall houses and the inevitable tapas bars. The 15th century Cathedral is built on the site of a mosque. The newly opened Picasso museum is housed in a restored 16th century palace. The Centre for Contemporary Art is also worth a visit. The Gibralfaro Castle crowns the town and has much to offer, as well as superb views over the sea and towards Africa. North of the city, on the road to Antequera are the La Conception Botanical gardens dating from 1885.

A visit to Granada, including cathedral, old town and Alhambra is a day trip and it is essential to book a time slot for the Alhambra, which can be done on line.